Endorsements: Three for the House Return these proven leaders back to Congress on Nov. 6

A new set of political maps approved last summer by the independent California Citizens Redistricting Commission created a new district in the South Bay that pits two sitting members of Congress against each other in the November election. In two other local congressional races, veteran congresswomen face weak opposition in their respective races. After interviewing the candidates, the newspaper's editorial board makes the following endorsements:

(The editorial board already endorsed Long Beach Councilman Gary DeLong for the 47th Congressional District and will make a pick between Rep. Henry Waxman and newcomer Bill Bloomfield in the race for the 33rd Congressional District in a future editorial.)

Janice Hahn in the 44th District

We endorsed Rep. Janice Hahn in the primary election over Rep. Laura Richardson to represent the new 44th Congressional District, and we continue to support her for the general election.

With only a year of experience under her belt, Hahn has helped to bring national attention to the importance of improving security and infrastructure at seaports, particularly those in Los Angeles and Long Beach. She has also reached across party aisles to create a bipartisan ports caucus with help from a Republican counterpart from Texas.

Since she won a special election last summer to replace Jane Harman, Hahn, a former Los Angeles councilwoman, has also authored legislation that touched on the environment, small business and veterans affairs -- all of which reflect the diverse needs of a new congressional district that stretches from San Pedro to South Gate.

Richardson didn't necessarily have to run against Hahn. Believing she would fare better in a new district where racial minorities are the new majority, Richardson moved out of her political stronghold of Long Beach and into neighboring San Pedro. But Richardson's poor reputation traveled with her.

Richardson's three terms in Congress have been marred by a series of questionable acts and ethical scandals. Last August, the House Ethics Committee reprimanded and fined Richardson for improperly using her congressional staff to work on her 2010 re-election campaign and also using government resources for personal activities.

A month later, the same panel said that it is continuing to hear "disturbing allegations" that Richardson was intimidating congressional staffers who cooperated in the investigation.

Granted, the House Ethics Committee cleared Richardson of any wrongdoing surrounding the foreclosure of a home in Sacramento, which was sold at auction and returned to her by the banks. But with nearly a half-million dollars worth of campaign debt, she has the dubious distinction of being one of the nation's top 10 politicians with an unusually large amount of unpaid bills, according to a report by Forbes magazine.

The controversy that has marred Richardson's tenure has shaken the confidence of her constituents making her a bad choice for a fourth term. Hahn has come into office with a definite knowledge of what her district needs and is the clear choice for voters.

Lucille Roybal-Allard in the 40th District

Democratic Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard deserves another term based on her strong record of creating jobs and responding to the needs of her constituents. The veteran congresswoman faces nominal opposition in the new 40th Congressional District, which includes East Los Angeles and the southeast communities of Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Downey and Paramount.

Roybal-Allard's opponent, Los Angeles college instructor David Sanchez, is highly critical of the congresswoman's record of approving defense spending, saying the money should be spent on higher education. But Sanchez, also a Democrat, incorrectly claims that Roybal-Allard has "not created a real legacy for being innovative or bringing change to our community."

Roybal-Allard took office in 1993, becoming the first Mexican-American woman to serve in Congress. She went on to co-author the DREAM Act two years ago, which would allow undocumented immigrant youths to become citizens if they enroll in college or enlist in the military.

That accomplishment alone shows that she is keeping her constituents in mind and would do an exceptional job in representing a new district primarily composed of low-income, first-generation Latino immigrants.

As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, Roybal-Allard has also pushed for infrastructure projects as a way to create jobs. During a recent editorial board interview, Roybal-Allard said she was also proud of writing legislation aimed at curbing underage drinking and finding federal funds to pay for gang diversion and after-school programs within her district. Roybal-Allard's record of success makes her the clear choice in November.

Maxine Waters for the 43rd District

Just coming off of being cleared of ethics charges, veteran South Bay Rep. Maxine Waters should be sent back to Washington, D.C., for a 12th congressional term. She's running for a new district that takes in Inglewood, Lennox, Lawndale, Hawthorne, Lomita, Westchester, Playa del Rey, Los Angeles International Airport, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, the east side of Torrance and the unincorporated area known as West Carson.

We would have liked to consider her opponent, even though it is very likely Waters will walk away with a victory in November. But voters know little about challenger Bob Flores other than he is also a Democrat. Indeed, it took a month for Flores to return a phone call seeking an interview with the editorial board. And when he finally did, his answers were generally vague whether he was talking about what he did for a living or his political views. Flores does not have any experience in politics and is not a credible candidate for Congress.

By comparison, Waters has a proven record of writing a diverse array of bills that affected health care, veterans and senior citizens. If elected to another term, Waters said she would help local cities find ways to pay for the onslaught of inmates being sent to local jails as part of the state's prison realignment. Additionally, Waters said she opposes plans to shift Los Angeles International Airport's northernmost runway closer to the neighboring communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey, even though airport officials say the move would improve efficiency and safety on the airfield.

Last month, the House Ethics Committee unanimously agreed to drop three ethics charges tied to allegations that Waters tried to steer federal funds to OneUnited Bank, where her husband is a stockholder and served as a board member.

Given her tenure and the fact she no longer has the dark cloud of ethics charges hanging over her head, Waters said she hopes to be appointed to the top Democratic spot on the House Financial Services Committee during the next congressional session, replacing the retiring Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. As a senior member of that panel, Waters was responsible for legislation that touched on flood control, loan modifications and neighborhood stabilization programs.

These three congresswomen are proven leaders for their communities and for the country. They deserve another term in Congress.